Running to Stand Still

Logan hadn't seen Kat all day, since she'd been off getting a manicure and her makeup and hair done for the formal that evening. Scott had been unceremoniously dumped with him, leaving them to spend the day watching football and having a few beers.

He stood in front of the full-length mirror Kat had, adjusting the bowtie at his neck. He'd shaved his face aside from the muttonchops, even though it would all be stubble by morning, and he had to admit that the tux didn't look so bad. It felt uncomfortable, not at all like his usual jeans a t-shirts that had been worn almost through.

A quick glance at the clock told him he had to get moving; the dance started in ten minutes, and he was supposed to meet Kat downstairs.

Another quick glance in the mirror to adjust the bowtie yet again, and then he was down the stairs. He saw Rogue greeting Scott with a kiss, beautiful in a dark green strapless gown. Her hair was done up in a French twist with the white parts curling down to frame her face.

"You clean up nicely," Kat said from behind him. He slowly turned around and found her smiling at him.

"You're gorgeous," he replied, gathering her into his arms. His hands met bare skin at her back and he looked down; the midnight blue velvet draped on either side of her back, fallio juo just above her butt. "I like this," he said, a slight growl in his voice as he ran fingers up her spine.

Kat shivered. "I thought you would." She took a step back and twirled for him, causing the knee-length skirt to flare out around her legs. Her legs looked longer with the heels she wore. "Do you really think I look good?"

Logan brought her face is fis for a kiss; with those heels she was as tall as him. "Good enough to eat, darlin'," he replied. He tugged on one of the curls that were piled up on her head. "I would never lie to you. You look incredible."

She smiled again, face lighting up. "Thank you," she said, taking his proffered arm and walking into the ballroom. The room usually held couches and chairs and tables for the students to use as a study area, but on nights like tonight it was used for its intended purpose, and the teens that had decorated it had gone all out.

White and gold Christmas lights were strung up across the ceiling to create the affect of stars, and more decorated the refreshment table and the little tables set up around the perimeter of the room. Gold and silver balloons hovered in the air; it was like stepping into a jewelry box.

Kat gave Logan a kiss before going to talk with her friends.

"I never thought I'd see you in a tuxedo, Logan," Xavier said as he wheeled towards them, dressed in his own tux. "It makes you look older."

"I wasn't aware I looked young in the first place," Logan said with a snort. "It's weird seeing everyone dressed up."

"I'm sure the women are enjoying themselves. They never miss a chance to buy new dresses and have their hair done." Xavier nodded to the younger teenagers of the school. "A lot of these children have no families to go home to on the holidays, much like Kat; the people here at the Institute have become their family, and this gives them a chance to celebrate the holiday with those they love the most."

Not one big on dancing, Logan was content to sit and talk with Scott while Kat and Rogue danced to the faster numbers. He made sure to dance with her on the slow songs, not really paying attention to the songs so much as he paid attention to the feel of Kat in his arms.

He had been sitting at his table for several songs when a familiar guitar opening came over the speakers; his eyes immediately found Kat's, sharing surprise that a song by Metallica was being played. He met her on the dance floor, kissing her on the forehead.

"This has to be one of my favorite songs," she said, mouth close to his ear. "It always makes me think of you, since it's a love song but by a metal band."

"I don't mind dancing with you if this song is playing," he said, teeth nipping gently at her earlobe. He pulled her in close, eyes closed as he listened to her soft voice singing the words to him. When she was around, everything else dropped away and she became the only important thing to him, the only thing that mattered. All the parts of him that had been missing were filled by her, by her smile, her laughter, her love. He was whole because of her.

The song ended and they stood in each other's arms even as a faster song came on. "You wanna go?" she asked softly. "I know this hasn't been the most fun for you."

Logan kissed the tip of her nose. "We can stay, I don't mind."

Kat shook her head. "My feet are killing me, and if I don't wash my hair tonight it's going to be hell in the morning." She kissed him back. "Let me go say goodnight to some people, and I'll be up, ok?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Later that evening they were curled up, watching TV, when Logan got out of bed.

"What are you doing?" Kat asked, watching him root around in one of the dresser drawers.

He came back to the bed, crawling under the covers and handing her a small box. "It's your Christmas present, I wanted to give it to you now." He gestured to the clock. "It's after midnight, after all."

Kat looked at Logan, then at the box in her hand. It was obviously a jewelry box, one of black velvet. She slowly opened it, her hands shaking slightly. Nestled inside was a Celtic knotwork ring, white gold with tiny blue sapphires embedded throughout.

"God, it's beautiful," she breathed, fingers touching it gently.

Logan took the box from her and took the ring out, taking her left hand in his and slipping the ring onto her middle finger. "I was afraid you wouldn't like it."

She shook her head. "Why would you think that?" she asked.

"It's kind of awkward giving a ring to a girl, when that usually means you want to marry them." He kissed the top of her head, pulling her body in close to his. "I wanted to give you something pretty."

She laughed, leaning up to kiss him deeply. "I'm a little young to be thinking about marriage. I love the ring anyway, it's so beautiful." She reached for the drawer on the bedside table. "Um, here's your present." It was in a nearly identical black jewelry box, causing Logan to raise an eyebrow when he saw it.

Inside was a silver ID bracelet with his name on it, her name engraved on the back. "I know you don't wear jewelry, but I thought maybe you'd like it. I couldn't think of anything to get you."

"I love it," he told her, slipping it on his wrist. "It's simple."

Kat smiled, then turned the TV off and snuggled deeper under the covers. Through the open curtains she could see snow falling and was happy to be inside, in Logan's arms.

"Merry Christmas, darlin'," he said in the dark, pulling her body to his and kissing her. Loving her was the best present of all.